b'COVER STORYA group of participants at Nimkii AazhibikongEducational InitiativesHow volunteers are promotinglearning, culture and nationhoodBy Nikita DayA cross Canada, volunteers arethe number of fluent Ojibway speakersback into our communities because it dedicating time to creatingthrough youth-led and elder brings families together and strengthens safe spaces for Indigenousdirected teachings.ties to the land, to the culture and toPeoples to gather and growThe Nimkii Aazhibikong Eshkiniijigour identity. Nationhood. The hope is that learningYouth Group, which hosts specificThe community started building a and sharing art, language, culture andland-based and language revitalizationyear-round language camp, based on ceremony may cause a spark for changeprojects, is led by volunteers Quinntraditional Anishinaabeg knowledge and that communities can ignite into a fire. Meawasige and Taryn Bobiwash. Somesustainable living practices. The camp Nimkii Aazhibikong of this knowledge is at risk of being lost,is off-grid with no electricity or running Just north of Elliot Lake, ON liesso were actively getting out there towater, and they are now working on Nimkii Aazhibikong, an Indigenous-ledlearn these things, says Meawasige. Weinitiatives to utilize solar power and build Anishinaabe language and culture camphost activities and events and we bringcomposting toilets. Community support, started by Christi Belcourt and Isaacpeople in, let people drop by and sharefundraising campaigns and donations of Murdoch in June 2017. The focus of thiswhat were learning. Were trying tosupplies are important for the continued language community is to increaserevitalize this and restore the knowledgebuilding and running of the camp. www.afn.ca 71'